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Maine

McKinney-Vento Support for Maine School District Liaisons

We understand that as a McKinney-Vento liaison in Maine, you likely oversee multiple functions within your district. From Down East to the western mountains and everywhere in between, our mission is to help you become the most effective liaison possible while optimizing your community connections.

Maine
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The Challenge in Maine

Maine presents a unique landscape for addressing student homelessness, characterized by its predominantly rural and sparsely populated nature, alongside growing southern and coastal urban centers. The state faces a significant and worsening housing crisis.

4,118 students were identified in the 2022-2023 school year; total enrollment was over 170k; Maine's identification rate for students experiencing homelessness was at 2.4%.1

Housing

A lack of safe, affordable, and stable housing is a pervasive struggle across Maine, significantly impacting educational access and stability for homeless students amidst an acute housing crunch due to escalating costs and limited construction.
 
  • Many students experience homelessness by living in doubled-up situations due to economic hardship. 53.9% of those students identified were staying in this accommodation type with 25.3% in hotels/motels.2
  • In urban areas rapidly escalating construction and rental costs make market-rate housing unaffordable, with population growth exacerbating demand.
  • Rural communities, comprising most of Maine, face significant challenges where homelessness is often "hidden" due to reliance on informal arrangements and limited formal shelter services. Affordability is a major concern.
  • Coastal communities, experiencing much of the state's recent population growth, face particularly high demand. This inflates property values and strains year-round housing supply, making it difficult for local workers to find affordable housing.

Transportation

Limited and costly transportation options across Maine contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism and difficulties in school attendance for homeless students. Access to reliable transportation is frequently cited as the most needed service for students experiencing homelessness.
 
  • In urban centers, challenges can include the expense of public transit, navigating routes across cities, and managing long commutes to maintain school stability, particularly for students whose temporary housing is far from their school of origin.
  • In rural areas, the primary obstacles are the lack of public transportation options and vast distances between temporary residences and schools. Reliance on limited school bus routes or the absence of city systems compounds barriers to consistent school attendance, making it challenging for students to access education and other essential services.

Did you know?

The national average of children and youth identified as experiencing homelessness is 3% of students enrolled in public education.3 Maine identified 2.4% during the 2022-2023 school year, below the national average,

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How McKinney-Vento.org Supports Maine Liaisons

Streamlined Compliance

We help you meet federal regulations with up-to-date checklists, policy templates, and annual audit preparation tailored for Maine schools.

Enhanced Identification: Your "Army of Awareness"

Custom training materials and awareness campaigns adapted for rural and urban districts help staff recognize housing insecurity early.

Comprehensive Training

Live webinars and on-demand modules-covering trauma-informed practices, transportation logistics, and rural outreach-available year round.

Data Management and Funding Support

Tools to track students, manage eligibility, and access local/federal funding (e.g., Title I, II) help boost resource allocation.

Expert Guidance and Advocacy Support

Subject Matter Experts with many years of McKinney-Vento implementation are ready to provide support on challenging cases, work through situations and help you connect with resources to support your work.
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Success with McKinney-Vento.org

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Featured

“ As I changed school districts this last year, I have become more aware of the homelessness in the school systems. I have moved to a district with many newcomers and most have come with out parents or guardians. This information is very helpful. I am going to pay more attention to situations and help when needed. ”

Cynthia J.

Maine

Why Maine Districts Choose McKinney-Vento.org

check-mark McKinney-Vento Expertise

McKinney-Vento.org delivers specialized training and compliance tools for identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness under federal education law.

 

check-mark Proven Results Since 2014

Our track record speaks for itself – from small rural districts to large urban systems, we've consistently delivered measurable improvements in homeless student support and educational stability.

 

check-mark The Only Turnkey Solution Available

Stop piecing together incomplete solutions. We provide the industry's only comprehensive, turnkey McKinney-Vento implementation system designed specifically for today's educational environment.

State Coordinator Contact

Signe Lynch, Interim McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Specialist Office of School and Student Supports
Phone: (207) 441-5934
 

Citations

1,2,3 Child and Youth Homelessness Data Profiles powered by University of Michigan Poverty Solutions and SHC
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/schoolhouseconnection/viz/ChildandYouthHomelessnessDataProfiles/National 

Ready to Better Support Maine's Homeless Students?

Join the Maine districts using McKinney-Vento.org to improve outcomes for students experiencing homelessness.

We'll help you find the funding and build internal support to make this program successful in your district.

Book your personalized demo
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